Just 4 of 10 from the field and only 1 of 7 from 3-point range. Three rebounds. Two assists.

But on Wednesday night when the Miami Heat looked in trouble down eight with a little less than five minutes remaining in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, Allen came up with two plays in the game’s final minute that helped keep the Heat from having to return to Brooklyn for a potential Game 6 against the Nets.

After missing his first six attempts from behind the arc, Allen connected on a 23-foot jumper from the corner, on a shot he said didn’t initially expect to have, but one he was ready to take.

His shot fell, and with 32 seconds left the Heat took their first lead of the second half, 93-91. They’d hang on for a 96-94 win over the Nets that ended the series and sent Miami back to the Eastern Conference finals for a fourth straight year.

His shot, which also helped end the season of former longtime Boston Celtics teammates Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce, came in the final minute during a game that Allen and the rest of the Heat struggled shooting just 31 percent from 3-point range as a team.

“I still felt like I was in a good rhythm and I was still searching. Even if I don’t shoot the ball, I’m always ready,” said Allen, who scored seven of his 13 points in the fourth quarter. “In that situation, LeBron [James] was just driving so hard and I thought [Mario Chalmers] had a shot. His feet weren’t set and he could have shot it and I was ready to go crash once he shot it. It came off weird where he didn’t really throw it to me, he was in between like he was throwing it to me to drive and then I was like ‘This ball is going up.’ It’s something I practice every day, getting your feet ready and right and putting it up in the air.”

Added Dwyane Wade of Allen’s performance, “No matter what, he was 0 for 6 when he hit that last three, no matter what goes on, we want the ball in Ray’s hands. That’s why he’s the greatest shooter of all time. We’re just glad he’s wearing a Heat jersey.

But Allen, who played in his 160th career postseason game on Wednesday and tied Wilt Chamberlain for 28th place on the all-time postseason list, wasn’t done after connecting on only one 3-pointer during the Heat’s closeout victory.

He hit a pair of free throws 11 seconds later that pushed the Heat’s lead to four and in the final seconds, he managed to knock the ball loose from Nets forward Joe Johnson, who on Wednesday night was virtually unstoppable.

Johnson was 15 of 23 from the field and finished with a game-high 34 points, but ultimately, Allen kept him from taking the shot Brooklyn needed.

“It was a tough situation. He was so hot. He had made so many shots over the top of us,” Allen said. “I was so aware of Paul [Pierce] and I was nervous not to give up a 3-pointer so I was trying to help but not help too much and then he had his back to me. I just kind of stuck my hand in there and dug it away a little bit. We just did what we had to do when we needed it.”

For Allen, who at times struggled against the Charlotte Bobcats and totaled just 13 points in the Heat’s opening-round playoff series, the conference semifinals were different, a reminder James said, of why he wants Allen on his side.

“If there’s one guy in the world I may not rotate on, that’s Ray Allen. We’re happy that once again, he’s on our side. I know we say it a lot, we’re excited he’s on our side,” James said. “Ray is a piece to help us win a championship. This is definitely the time of the year for him. He sees the moment and this series, he didn’t let the last season affect him.”

Said Miami coach Erik Spoelstra, "He just finds a way at the end. That's thousands and thousands and thousands of hours of practice and simulating pressure. It was a big-time three."